I appreciate your thoughts, my friend. I believe that the ultimate aim of blockchain technology is to create a decentralized and transparent system that empowers individuals and communities with more control over their financial lives. Decentralization is what sets blockchain apart from traditional databases and ledgers, and it is this decentralization that promises to upend the existing financial ecosystem and level the playing field for all.

While it's true that blockchains can be relatively inefficient compared to other payment systems, I believe that this is a small price to pay for the increased transparency and security that they provide. Additionally, many of the performance and scalability issues that currently plague blockchain technology can and will be addressed through ongoing research and development.

It's true that speed, functionality, and privacy are important factors to consider when designing a cryptocurrency, but these should always be seen as secondary to the overarching goal of decentralization. At the end of the day, I believe that a true cryptocurrency must prioritize decentralization and work tirelessly to improve its core technology in the service of that goal.